Hydraulic road scraper



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HYDRAULI C ROAD 5 CRAPER Filed Jan. 18, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \noenfox"Gems E. Dean M QIIQrm-gS-D Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GEORGE E. DEAN, on GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, AssIoNoR TO CHARLES G.WILLETT, F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN HYDRAULICRQAD SCRAPER This inventionrelates to road scrapers of the type which are now used on and belowtrucks on roads for the purpose of scraping the road to level or smooththe same or for removing snow or the like from the road in the wintertime.

In road scrapers of this type it has been common to mount the scraperblade on a rock shaft which in turn has been carried on suitable hangersfrom an upper supporting beam and the beam is mounted with reference tothe truck chassis frame so that it can be shifted to different angles tothe longitudinal axis of the frame or may be reversed in position so asto scrape to the same side-of the road in either direction of movementof the truck. It has further been common to operate the rock shaft by ahydraulic operated piston so as to raise or lower the scraper blade:lifting it into inoperative position when it is not to be used andforced downwardly against the road surface when it is used.

The present invention has as one of its primary objects and purposes theprovision of a novel hydraulic means for operating the scraper bladerock shaft to raise andlower the scraper and for providing aconstruction capable of heavy duty and by means of which the strainswhich the scraper must resist are transmitted in a more uniform manner'in the length of the supporting beam which 'carries the rock shaft. Morespecifically a circular member is secured to the supporting beamconcentric with the axis about which the beam is turned in shifting orchanging its angle, and the hydraulic power apparatus is mounted betweenthis circular member and the beam and connected with the rock shaftwhereby the stresses set up are carried by 40 the circular member to thebeam at points distant from its pivotal axis. A further object andpurpose of the invention is to provide hydraulic apparatus for changingthe angle or reversing the position of the scraper carrying beamselectively at any time when desired through the operator in the cab ofthe truck starting themechanism in motion for accomplishing such result.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelhydraulic power means the apparatus for moving the scraper blade todifferent anglesor for reversing its position. Many other objects andpurposes than those stated together with novel constructions forattaining the same will be apparent .upon understanding of the inventionfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck having my invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view illustrating essentialelements in combination present in my invention for operating thescraper blade rock shaft and for turning the scraper supporting beam todifferent angles.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, with some parts in section, illustrative of themechanism which is mounted on and beneath the truck and showing thehydraulic apparatus for raising and lowering the scraper. blade and forchanging it to different angular positions across the road.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating its mounting on the truck.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the scraper mechanismillustrating particularly the manner in which the scraper blade issecured to the rock shaft, this being one of the valuable features ofthe invention. 7

Fig.--6 is a plan, with one of the valve housings in section, showing.the power ch is mounted in the 1 section and side elea intal sectionsubstantially w .ne 88 of Fig. 7, and

transverse vertical section a e rock shaft and scraper blade jliwing themanner in which the connecting spring members between said rock shaftand M scraper blade are detachably secured to the rock shaft.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawings. The truck 1, shown in Fig. 1, is of any conventionalconstuction. Usually for road maintenance work it carries a dumping bodywhich is hydraulically operated to dump its contents as has been commonon trucks for many years. The truck has the usual spaced apart sidechassis frame members 2 from which the scraping apparatus is supported.In practice spaced apart front and rear vertical slotted bars 3 areconnected to the side frame members 2 of the truck and may be verticallyadjusted to different positions. Between the lower ends of the verticalsupporting bars 3 at each side of the truck, two parallel bars 4 arepositioned and secured attheir ends to the lower ends of the bars 3. Anelongated inverted channel beam 5, which is used to carry the rock shaftand the scraper blade connected therewith, lies directly underneath andacross the two pairs of bars 4, one at each side of the truck, andU-shaped elongated hangers 6 made of fiat metal are attached at theirends to the upper side of the beam and extend over the bars 4 as bestshown in scraper carried thereby from the bars 4 but permitting a widerange of angular movement of the beam and scraper. This 'construction isone which has been used and is not new herein being fully illustratedanddescribed in my application Ser. No. 394,408, filed September 23, 1929,and in my 'Patent No. 1,765,969, granted June 24, 1930.

At the underside of the beam 5 and, as will hereafter appear, concentricwith the vertical axis about which the beam swings in its angularmovements, is a ring 7 of metal which enters into notches cut intodownwardly extending flanges of the channel beam 5 and permanentlysecured to the beam pref Fig. 5, thereby supporting the beam and theerablv by welding. A plurality of hanger the spring arms lie against therear side (if the scraper blade 10 and the blade is detachably securedthereto b means of clips 12, bolts passing through t e blade and theclips as shown in Fig. 4. The upper ends of the legs of the U are formedinto spring coils 13 from which, at each outer end, terminal parts 14 ofthe spring arms extend and are detachably connected to the rock shaft.As shown in Fig. 9 a block 15 is shaped at its front side to lie againstthe rear side of the rock shaft and between the block 15 and a secondblock 16 the ends 14 of the spring arms are clamped, bolts 17 passingthrough both of the blocks and through the rock shaft to securely clampthe end portions 14 of the spring arms against movement.

It is apparent with this construction that should aspring arm betweenthe rock shaft and the scraper blade break at any time it is veryquickly and easily removed and a. new

one put in its place. Releasing the bolts 17 i used with two of theblocks 16 which serve to clamp the ends 14 of any spring arm member tothe rock shaft serves to release said spring arm member and then byremoving the clip 12 associated with such spring mem ber it can beentirely removed and a new one attached in its place.

Between the front. side of the beam 5 and at the front portion of thering 7 two spaced apart plates 18 are permanently secured, (see Fig. 3)between which a cylinder 19 is located having oppositely disposedtrunnions 20 which pass through and have a rotatable mounting in theplates 18. A piston rod 21 extends through the rear head of the cylinder19. Two clamps 22, as best shown in Fig. 4, are clamped upon the rockshaft 9 and from the upper clamp 22 vertical ears 23 extend betweenwhich the rear end of the piston rod 21 is received and has a pivotalconnection thereto as shown in Fig. 2. It is evident accordingly that onrearward movement of the piston rod 21 the rock shaft 9 will be turnedto face the scraper blade 10 against the road surface and upon forwardmovement of the piston rod 21 the rock shaft member turns to elevate thescraper blades A red 24 of metal preferably having flattened upper andlower sides is located transversely of the rear ends of the bars 4 atthe lower ends of the vertical bars 3, as shown in Fig. 4, and issecurely clamped in place by means of clamps 25 engaging against theun-' derside of the rod 24 and clamping it against the lower ends 26 ofthe rear bars 3. Two spaced apart horizontal under plates 27 are locatedatthe underside of the bar 24 and extend forwardly therefrom under thelower edgeofthe ring7 (see Fig. 3). An upper plate 28 lies at its rearedge portion above the bar 24 and extends forward therefrom over thering7. The-plates 27 and 28 are permanently secured to the bars 24 bymeans of bolts indicated at 29. The plate 28 in front of the ring 7 isoffset upwardly and continued in a forward direction over the upper sideof the beam 5 and at its front end has a circular opening therein intowhich a dished member 30 extends (see Fig. 4) which is bolted to thebeam 5, the outwardly extending flanges of the member 30 passing overthe upperside of the plate 28 around the opening.

This secures the beam 5 against movement except about a vertical axisthrough the center of the circular member 30 the plate 28 serving as asupport to hold the beam against aimless movement. Between the upperplate 28 and one of the lower plates 27 as shown in F ig.- 3, a drum 31having projecting teeth is mounted together with a gear 32 below it on acommon vertical shaft 33 which has bearing at its ends in the plates 27and-28. Between the plate 28 and the lower plate 27 at the other side ofthe structure a roller indicated at 34 is mounted which bears againstthe ring 7, the drum 31 also bearing against said ring. The ring 7isformed with a plurality of spaced apart openings 35 adapted to receivethe gear teeth on the drum 31 so that when the drum is turned the ring37 will also be turned and change the angular position of the beam 5.

A piston rod 36 having rack teeth formed in one side thereof meshes withthe gear 32 and enters through a head at one end of a second cylinder 37which is located between and permanently secured to the upper plate 28and one of the lower plates 27 as shown in Fig. 3. The piston rack rod36 is held in engagement with the gear or pinion 32 and will notdisengage therefrom through a bracket 38 as shown in Fig. 3. Movement ofthe piston rod 36 causes a turning movement of the ring 7 about avertical axis passing through the member 30 with a consequent shiftingof the beam 5 about such axis so that it and the.

and 42, respectively, which lead from thepumping mechanism, located inthe cab, underneath the chassis of the motor truck, being supportedbyclips 40a attached to the underside of the cross member of a motor truckframe as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Other pipes 43 and 44 lead-to the outerand inner ends re spectively of the hydraulic cylinder 37, it of coursebeing understood that the piston rods 21 and 36 extend from pistonsWithin the cylinders as is common and usual in .inder h draulicapparatus.

In tll e cab of the truck and preferably mounted back of the dash is areceptacle or tank 45 for containing the reserve supply of hydraulicliquid used, usually oil. An electric motor 46 is mounted on and abovethe tank 45 and its shaft, extending into the tank at its lower end, isequipped with a pinion47, driving a gear 48 which inturn drives thepumping mechanism housed within a pump housing 49 supported near thebottom of the tank 45 by a vertical bar support 50 as shown.

- When the pump is in operation it forces oil or other suitable liquidthrough an outlet pipe 51 which extends through and above the top of thetank 45 and is directed rearwardly to connect with a union 52 (see Fig.2). The union 52 has a vertical pipe connection 53 therewith which,through suitable unions and nipples, joins with one side of a valvehousing 54 in which a valve 55 is mounted to be operated by a handle.The pipe 44 previously described leads into one side of the valvehousing and at the diametrically opposed side is a connection 56 withwhich the companion pipe 43 joins.

From the remaining side of the housing 54 a pipe 57 leads to a union 58from which the return pipe 59 for the oil to the tank extends forwardlyand downwardly as best shown in Fig. 2. A

piston cyl- To the other end of the union 52 a pipe 60 is connectedwhich leads to and connects with one side of a second valve housing 61housing a valve 62 which at its directly opposite side has a connectionwith the union 58. The pipe 42 previously described leads 'to the valvehousing 61 and diametrically opposite a connecting pipe 63 joints withthe pipe 41.

The motor is operated in substantially the. same manner as the startingmotor on an automobile by pressing a suitable switch indicated at 64 inFig. 1 with the heel. This drives the gear pump and with the valves at55 and 62 open the oil will return through the pipes 57 and 60 to thereturn pipe 59. With the valve 55 at the position shown in Fig. 6 theoil will be pumped through pipe 44 to the inner end of the cylinder 37and will thereupon move the ring 7 in one direction .and

change the angular position of the beam 5 and the scraper carried by it.If the valve at 55 is turned to another position at right angles to thatshown in Fig. 6 the oil will be pumped through the pipe 43 to the outerend of the cylinder 37 with a consequent movement of the ring 7, beam 5and scraper blade 10.0pposite to that when the oil is pumped to thefront end of the cylinder 37.

It will be noted with reference to Fig. 6

that when the oil is being pumped outwardly through the pipe 44 to theinner end of the cylinder 37 the oil between the piston in saidcylinderand the outer end of the cylinderis tions at right angles toeach other like what has been described with reference to valve 55,

oil may be pumped through either end of the cylinder 19 to therebyeffect the raising or lowering of the scraper blade.

The construction described has proved very practical in actual roadtests. With it any desired pressure of the scraper blade against theroad within the limits of the weight and traction of the truck may beattained and the raising and lowering of the scraper blade very quicklyand easily accomplished. In like manner the angular adjustment of thescraper blade to different positions or to reversed positions withrespect to.

the positions previously had may be quickly and simply secured. Theinvention is defined in the appendedclaims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination, a beam, a ring secured to the beam and extending bothfront and back thereof, a rock shaft, brackets supporting the same, ascraper blade, connections from the rock shaft to the scraper blade, afluid pressure cylinder located at one side of the beam, means betweenthe beam and the ring on which said cylinder is mounted, a

piston rod projecting from the cylinder and connections between thepiston rod and rock shaft for rocking the shaft on movement of thepiston rod.

2. A construction of the class'described' comprising, spaced aparthorizontal supports, a beam mounted transversely of said supports forangular change of position on Y the supports, ascraper with pivotalsupport therefor carried by the beam, a member secured to said beam andextending to one side thereof, a fluid pressure cylinder, means formounting said cylinder between a side of the beam and said member andmeans for actuating said scraper by said hydraulic cylinder.

3. In a construction of the class described, a horizontal beam, ascraper mounted lengthwise of and under said beam for pivotal movementthereon, an open continuous member connected to said beam and extendingboth front and back thereof, a fluid power cylinder, means for mountingsaid'cylinder between a side of the beam and a side of said open member,a piston and piston rod asso ciated with said cylinder, and3*0011118Cl31011 between the piston rod and the pivotal mounting forsaid scraper for moving said scraper on introduction of a pressure fluidinto said cylinder at either end thereof.

4. A scraper structure comprising, an adjustable beam, a curved memberattached to said beam and extending to one side thereof, a scraperstructure carried by the beam, a fluid pressure cylinder, and meansinterposed between said cylinder and said curved member and engagingwith said curved member.

5. A scraper structure comprising, a truck frame, spaced aparthorizontal supports carried on and below the frame, a horizontal beammounted on and carried by the supports for adjustment to differentangular po sitions, a curved member connected to said beam, a fluidpressure cylinder, piston rod associated therewith, and gearingconnections between said piston rod and the curved member for adjustingsaid beam to different angular positions on longitudinal movement of thepiston rod.

6. A scraper structure comprising, a support, a horizontal beampivotally mounted between its ends thereon to turn about a verticalaxis, a curved member connected to said beam and extending to one sidethereof, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston and piston rod associatedtherewith, said piston rod bemg formed with a rack, a gear engaging withsaid curved member, and means for turning said gear on longitudinalmovement of the piston rod.

7. A scraper structure comprising, spaced apart horizontal supports, ahorizontal beam mounted transversely :of and on said supports forangular adjustment, a scraper carried bv the beam, a horizontal barspaced from said beam, a plate secured to the bar extending to anintermediate portion of said beam, means pivotally connecting said plateto the beam whereby the beam is adjustable about a vertical axis, afluid pressure cylinder, a piston and piston rod associated therewith, acurved member secured to the beam and extending from the beam toadjacent the piston rod, and operative connections between said pistonrod and curved member for turning the beam and scraper about saidpivotal axis of adjustmeint on longitudinal movement of the piston ro 8.In a construction of the class described,-

and scraper for raising or lowering the scraper on movement of saidpiston rod.

9. A scraper structure comprising, a horizontal beam mounted for pivotalmovement about a vertical axis located between the ends of the beam, amember attached to said beam at its ends at spaced apart points andspaced from the beam at its intermediate portion, spaced apart plateslocated between the intermediate portion of said member and the beam andconnected thereto at their ends, a fluid pressure cylinder pivotallymounted to turn about a horizontal axis on said plates, a rock shaftcarried by the beam, a scraper blade carried by the rock shaft, a pistonrod extending from the cylinder toward said rock shaft, and a connectionbetween the piston rod and rock shaft for rocking said rock shaft toraise or lower the scraper blade on movement of the piston rod.

10. In a scraper structure, a horizontal beam mounted for adjustmentabout a vertical axis to difl'erent angular positions, a scraper bladepivotally mounted on said beam for raising and lowering, fluid pressurepower means connected with said scraper blade for selectively raising orlowering the same, a second fluid pressure power means connected withsaid beam for selectively moving the beam and scraper blade to differentangular positions, a fluid pressure pump, connections between thesameand both of said fluid pressure means for carrying the pressurefluid to each of said means, and selective control devices forcontrolling. the direction of flow of said pressure fluid through saidconnections.

11. In a scraper structure, a horizontal beam mounted for adjustmentabout a vertical axis to different angular positions, a scraper bladecarried by said beam, a curved member secured at its ends to the beam atpoints equidistant from said vertical axis, said curved member having aplurality of consecutive openings therein, a gear having teeth engagingin said openings, power operated means for turning the gear, andselective means for effecting the turning of said gear by the poweroperated means in either direction.

12. In a construction of the class described, a horizontal su portingbeam, a rock shaft mounted on the eam, a scraper blade carried by therock shaft, a. circular ring member connected to the beam, means forpivotally mounting the beamto turn about a vertical axis coincident withthe center of said ring member, fluid pressure power means located atone side of the beam between it and said ring member and connected withthe rock shaft to rock the same, a second fluid pressure means locatedat the opposite side of the beam and adjacent the opposite portion ofsaid ring member, and means engaging the said opposite portion of thering member and actuated by said second fluid pressure means for turningthe ring member and attached beam about said vertical axis.

13. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 2, combined with a fluid pump, a reservoir for fluid in which thepump is located, means for operating the pump, conduits extending toopposite ends of each of said fluid pressure means, and valve controlmeans for selectively directing pumped fluid through either of theconduits leading to each of said fluid pressure means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE E. DEAN.

